Pakistan awaits government nod for Asia Cup and Junior Hockey World Cup participation

New Delhi: High-ranking officials of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) have stated that both organizations are still waiting to receive official government clearance to take part in two big international hockey events to be held in India later this year.

An Indian source at the ministry of sports said on Thursday there would be no restriction of the teams of Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup later in the month & later this year in the Junior World Cup. The official stressed that banning the participation in multilateral events would be against the Olympic Charter.

The Asia Cup will be staged in Rajgir, Bihar, between August 27 to September 7 and the Junior World Cup will be held in Chennai and Madurai between November 28 and December 10.

PHF awaiting for response

According to PHF Secretary General Rana Mujahid, the federation had requested the PSB through an official request to allow its sending of teams across the borders.

“But the PSB has forwarded the official query to the concerned ministries and they are yet to respond,” he explained.

Khurrum Shahzad, PSB spokesman also said no final decision has been conveyed.

“Participation as of now remains unconfirmed until the government conveys its policy on sending sports teams to India for any event,” he said.

Shahzad further said that the PSB had in turn forwarded the request to Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination which had forwarded it to Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A verdict on such departments is yet to be made.